Dickson Community

If you are like me, you can’t Spell OKLAHOMA without singing it in your head… “O-K, L-A, H-O, M-A”, and you can’t hear the word Oklahoma without belting out “OOOOklahoma where the wind comes sweepin down the plains….” but can’t get any further with the song than that!

The cast of Roger and Hammerstien’s Musical OKLAHOMA, being performed at the Renaissance Center in Dickson, doesn’t get stuck on the lyrics of the overture of OKLAHOMA or any of the other memorable songs in the play. The Renaissance Player’s vocals are robust with every bit of energy one would expect from such an unforgettable play.

The story is packed with fun and romance, with lots of humor and of course singing and dancing. From the first notes of “Oh, what a beautiful Mornin” to the last refrains of “Oklahoma” sung by the entire ensemble, this play delivers an enjoyable evening of excitement and entertainment. This rendition of Oklahoma includes a collaboration with Nashville In Motion, a professional contemporary dance troupe, for a unique dream sequence ballet.

The story takes place before Oklahoma became a state but the tale is timeless: two guys after the same gal. Two plot lines, romance and comedy, make for a lively musical. Curly, the cowboy ( played handsomely by Dale McCoy) is smitten with Laurey , the farm girl (beautifully done by Jenny Norris-Light), but the hired –hand, Jud Fry (powerfully portrayed by James Reyome), has his heart set on making her his girl. In the mean time, fickle Ado Annie- a girl who can’t say no (delightfully delivered by Faith Kelm) can’t decide between her two suitors- Cowboy Will Parker (charmingly played by Luke Phillips) and the peddler Ali Hakim ( played with great comedic delivery by Jesse Davidson) who really doesn’t want to be caught. It is hard to know whether to laugh or cry when Curly describes what love Jud would receive at his funeral and sings “Poor Jud is Daid” while Jud is still alive and standing beside him.

With a cast of 50 performers, there is a lot to be said for what is delivered on stage. Most of the actors and actresses have been on stage at the Renaissance Center before but a few were newcomers for this play. Luke Philips, in particular, has fallen in love with what this Dickson theater has to offer and has high hopes of returning to act in future productions. The returning lead actors find the family atmosphere at the Renaissance Center to be quite conducive to good chemistry which produces great performances.

While the cast has its back stage fun to keep their acting fresh they admit that it is a group effort to make the performances so professional and sharp. From the Director, Pacer Harp, to the stage manager, Jon Kopischke and the highly praised talents of Clint Pilkinton, the lighting designer and technical director, and everyone back stage- the actors feel at peace knowing that on stage as well as off, they are all “family, working to make it all work”.

Live theater is exciting and special in that everything comes together to create a different presentation each night. Don’t think that your attendance is passive, the audience is the extra element that feeds the actors and makes a world of difference in the energy onstage. A gentleman to my right found the role of the peddler to be quite funny. Jesse Davidson, the comic relief, said that the laughter may come at different times during performances and that effects how he moves into his next lines which enriches the play.

The actors I spoke with confess that they are adults on stage using their imaginations while playing pretend and that they are making a living out of not growing up. It was mentioned that the Renaissance Center is a great place for kids and adults to learn, not only how to act but also about themselves.

Make a plan to see Oklahoma, an exceptional play, for your own enjoyment and to support the Arts in Dickson TN.

Show Times:

Friday & Saturday at 7pm, Saturday afternoon at 2pm, and Sunday afternoon at 2pm

Dinner is offered Friday & Saturday nights at 6pm with the show to follow at 7pm. Tickets are $35 which includes dinner, dessert, drink and the show. Gratuity is not included.

Lunch is offered Saturday afternoons at 1pm with the show to follow at 2pm. Tickets are $25 which includes lunch, dessert, drink and the show. Gratuity is not included.

Show only tickets are also available for all shows; $15 adults, $12 seniors, $8 children.

Oklahoma! is sponsored by RAI of Dickson, Woof! Pet Salon, Caris Healthcare, Horizon Medical Center and Mappes Orthodontics.

The Renaissance Center is an arts and technology education and performing arts center just 35 miles west of Nashville on Interstate 40 at exit 172. For more information, call (615)740-5600 or 1(888)700-2300. The Renaissance Center, 855 Highway 46 South, Dickson, TN 37055

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So what’s with the traffic signals in downtown Dickson? Why are they blinking instead of going through their red, yellow and green light sequence? And then they added STOP signs along with the lights? Admit it, you have been wondering what’s up too.

According to the Office of Public Work’s director, Rydell Wesson, the lights are in blinking mode because the “signal-heads are dilapidated and obsolete” and our city maintenance can no longer find parts to repair them. They have “robbed the bone yard to keep them going” but that is no longer a viable option. The State regulations will not allow Dickson to just install a new traffic signal, the city would have to install a whole new $120,000.00 traffic light system .

Although Dickson has been awarded a 1 million dollar grant to improve downtown Dickson’s streets and sidewalks, “ do we really want to take $120,000 for that intersection” queries Mr. Wesson. It is a “matching grant” from the State of TN, which means that for every 20% of the funding Dickson provides, the State provides 80%.

This being one of twenty-five projects, Phase I is a “multiphase street scape enhancement to restore and beautify, as well as provide new components essential to public safety and comfort while encouraging private reinvestment in Dickson’s Historic commercial center”. It includes sidewalks, streets, signage, landscape, curbs, gutters, traffic signals and the like for pedestrians and bicycles as well as vehicle traffic. The Office of Public works is looking at keeping downtown alive while providing better traffic-flow and parking. Many ideas are on the table including making some streets one-way streets.

But, like any city or state project, there is always red-tape tying it up somewhere. While there is currently an engineering company advising and preparing the Phase I conceptual drawings, there are many “steps, hoops and hurdles”  in complying with Federal Regulations as well as the  TN  Dept. Of Transportation ~ or TDOT. The steps are methodical in allowing progression to the next phase from transportation, to enhancement and historical restoration for the City Counsel of Dickson to move forward with the projects.

However, there is still the need and issue of traffic control in Dickson on Main Street as well as College Street. At some point the city can decide that we need a traffic light or lights in the downtown area and may have to release funds to pay for the new traffic light system.

I find there is a hazard in the blinking light system- as, after going through two traffic lights that were blinking red for me to stop and then proceed as traffic allowed- I went to the next light, and after stopping at the red light, turned left EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT A BLINKING LIGHT! My mind was on auto pilot and I just went through the routine. You can’t get a ticket AFTER the fact, can you?

*Rydell Wesson is the director of the Public Works Department. Kimberly Givens is Mr. Wesson’s administrative assistant. The Public Works Department office is located at 600 East Walnut Street. Normal office hours are Monday- Friday 7:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. The office can be reached by calling (615)441-9506 or by e-mail at kgivens@cityofdickson.com.

Election Day September 24th 2009

Who is “Bird” Armstrong?

I am 45 years old. I have been married for 18 years to Charlotte Luther Armstrong. We live on a small farm off of hwy 48 south. We have no children. I have been employed with TDOT since 1995, and have been a Realtor and Auctioneer with Charles Woodard & Associates since 1992.

I am a Christian, Mason and Shriner.

I enjoy working on my farm and raising a wide variety of animals and Livestock. I enjoy hunting and spending time with my 5 dogs.

I am a “people person”. I enjoy interacting with people of all walks of life. I have never met a stranger. I try to keep an open mind. I like to hear why others view things as they do. I respect the opinion of others, even when they differ from mine.

Why do you want to be on the City Council

I have always enjoyed being “involved” in community groups. I have been on several boards and committees throughout my life. I get a great deal of pleasure when I do things that help to make our community and world, a better and more enjoyable place to live and raise a family.

I went to work in Nashville for TDOT in 1995. At that time I gave up a lot of the community activities that I had been involved with. I have really missed this interaction. By being on the City Council, I can be involved and help make the decisions that will improve life in Dickson, now and in the future.

What are your “Goals” as a City Councilman

1. I hope to improve communications between the elected bodies county wide.

2. I want the citizens to know I am “available” to listen to their concerns.

3. I want to bring my “common sense” to the table in decision making.

4. I would like to see our city take advantage of opportunities for Job growth.

5. I strongly support anything that can be done to help and improve the lives of our Senior Citizens.

6. I support improvement of our infrastructure.

7. I support a Balanced Budget.

8. I believe that ALL areas of the city should receive Fair & Equal services.

9. I believe that elected officials “Are” and should be accountable to the public.

10. I believe in Term Limits for “All” elected officials.

What do you promise to do

I “Promise” if you contact me as a city councilman. I WILL listen to you, and I “WILL” get you an answer.

I can’t promise, I will always get you the answer that you want. But I do promise that I will represent you in a manner that is honest, dependable and open.

If I “can’t” do what you want. I will be able to explain to you “why” it can’t be done.

Do you have anything else you would like to say to the Voters

Yes

I can NOT put these goals into action if “YOU” as voters and taxpayers don’t take the time to VOTE. You can support me and my goals all you want. But the final vote count is what can put this plan into action.

PLEASE take the time to VOTE.

I welcome your input. I can be reached at armstrbi@realtracs.com or 446-2465.

Voting for Ward 3 will be held at the Walnut Street Church of Christ

Election Day is September 24th from 7am to 7pm

EARLY Voting will be held from Sept. 4th thru Sept. 19th

Early Voting in Dickson will be Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30am – 3:30pm

NOW for the first time. You can do early voting in Dickson on Saturdays. From 8 am till Noon.

One more “NOTE” I have found several Senior Citizens who are getting to a place in life where they have difficulty getting in and out of the polls. State law allows certain people to call the election office and request a paper ballot be sent to their home. One of these is anyone 65 years of age or older.

You just need to call the election office at 789-5093 to request this paper ballot.

Provided By Jon “Bird” Armstrong

Dickson Community Does Not Endorse Anyone Running for Elected Office.

On June 2, 2009 residents of Dickson County gathered to celebrate a piece of local history.  The Grand Opening of the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum was held at Holland Park under cloudless skies.  Jerry Smith, Master of Ceremonies, opened with some information about the hotel.  The hotel’s name comes from its being the birthplace of Governor Frank G. Clement, and several members of the Clement family were present at the ceremony.  Mr. Bob Clement spoke about his father, Governor Clement, who at the age of sixteen proclaimed that he would be Governor someday.  From that point on, everything he did was geared toward that one objective, and at the age of thirty-two he became the 2nd youngest Governor in Tennessee.  Governor Clement was also a  key figure in the integration of Tennessee schools, and one member of the “Clement Twelve” (a group of  students who were first integrated into white schools) was present at the ceremony.  Mr.  Clement spoke of him as being a true survivor and leader.

This is just one example of the inspirational stories that people have in their lives.  This historical museum will be a place to celebrate such stories through exhibits and activities.  The museum will be available for special events, lectures, and receptions.  Please call (615) 446-0500 for more information or to book your next social event at this historic venue.

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